Best releases of the month – January 2016

Wow, 2016 has already given us so many wonderful new releases, and this year I have decided to do the “month by month” best of-summary every month, instead of at the end of the year. So, in JANUARY, these are my favourite releases. I loved them all, but the ones that for some reason meant the most to me are marked with a red ||.

Sea Pinks – Soft Days || After a couple of great singles, this album arrived at the start of the year, and it definitely followed up the quality. It will surely follow me through the year. Brilliant jangly indiepop.Hinds – Leave me alone || The “real” debut album from these Spanish garage/jangle pop girls. It’s fun, not great, but it makes me happy listening to, and what’s better than that?Pete Astor – Spilt milk || New album from former The Loft/The Weather Prophets-singer on Slumberland.Galapaghost – I never arrived || Beautiful, calm folky album for those dark winter nights.Daughter – Not to disappear || Strong album from Daughter.Marvellous Mark – Crushin’ || Sometimes fuzzy and upbeat, sometimes calm and beautiful. Always melodic.Dawn Landes and Piers Faccini – Desert songs || Two marvellous voices. Beautiful folky album.Promise and the monster – Feed the fire || She’s finally back and her new album is dark, dreamy and very good.PAUW – Macrocosm Microcosm || Extremely tight, beautiful, dreamy, psychpop album. One of the first “WOW!”s of the year.Adrian Younge – Something about April II || Very eclectic album featuring among others Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier. Sometimes jazzy, sometimes close to hiphop, sometimes almost Spaghetti western sounding… Always interesting!Charlie Hilton – Palana || Interesting album on Captured Tracks. Some stunningly beautiful songs on it.Songs for Walter – Songs for Walter || Brilliant album from this Manchester band. Fuzzy indiepop with folk flavours. Love it! (Buy on Bandcamp)

SINGLES I LOVED THIS MONTH

Tacocat

Tacocat – I hate the weekend || What a powerful and brilliant song this is! Makes me want to jump around and hate the weekend with them.The Golden Eaves – No Other || Combine two of my favourite songwriters – Kenji (The Fairways, Clay Hips) and Joe (The Pines, The Foxgloves) – and you’ll get one of my favourite new bands. Their debut single features 2 brilliant indiepop tracks, with wonderful melodies and warm, lovely vocals.(Buy on Bandcamp)Pinkshinyultrablast – The Cherry Pit || Dense, fuzzy and beautiful.Courtney Barnett – Three packs a day || Almost Go-Betweens-pop from Barnett. I can like that.The Spook School – Binary/David Bowie songs || Two great songs, – one with a somewhat special timing (released a couple of days before Bowie died).Zach Schimpf – What’s it like there, tomorrow? || Very nice track that took some listens to get my full love, but now I always turn up the volume when it starts. Electronic pop. Love the vocals and the melody.Meilyr Jones – How to recognize a work of art/all is equal in love || The lead song was released on its own in 2015, but the B-side is new. It’s worth it on its own. Brilliant!Sunflower Bean – Easier said || A nice and dreamy pop-tune.The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir – Clark & Belmont || Their last ever release, if I have understood it correctly, and it’s a good song to end it with.EERA – Drive with fear || Beautiful, calm semi electronic track with gorgeous vocals.Gold Sounds – Take it from me || Insanely catchy bass-based track that at the same time is very unusual from most pop songs I have heard. Very nice!Matthew and the atlas – Elijah || This folky style is usually not my style, but this track is just too beautiful to resist.Liima – Amerika || A very interesting new band by Finnish percussionist Tatu Rönkkö + the members of the Danish band Efterklang. Out on 4ad. Awaiting the album in excitement.Amber Arcades – Turning light || New signing on Heavenly records, and what a debutsingle she has made for them! Wonderful song.Boys Forever – Poisonous || New project from Veronica Fall-drummer. Catchy indiepop.The Bulls – Prudence || Very good 2 track single. Dreamy indiepop.Cayetana – Tired Eyes || One of my favourites so far. Wonderful cover of New Order on the b-side.Meilyr Jones – Featured artist || He does it again. Can’t wait for his album. The singles have been amazing.Rory McVicar – Toothache || 2 wonderful tracks from McVicar. I get a The Smiths feeling by listening to this, which is not at all a bad thing. Doesn’t sound very much like The Smiths, though. Very good!Ski Lodge – Crush your heart || Upbeat, synthy indie. Catchy!Dylan Mondegreen – Every little step || Finally a new single from Dylan Mondegreen, and it is so good! I have missed his gentle, warm popsongs.